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June nodded and faced forward as Dragan drove through town, getting on the highway to go to the Castle Fun Park. The park was a cheap monstrosity, but it provided entertainment in the middle of nowhere. Go-karts, mini-golf, skating, rock-climbing, laser tag, you name it. It was a good icebreaker for a situation that was sure to be a shit-show.
The ride was mostly silent, the air pulsing with anticipation. Should he have kissed her when she got in? Would they hug when they got out? Would they be touchy with one another, as they always were, or would they be too hyper-aware of every movement?
“D, you passed the turn off,” June chuckled.
“Shit.”
Dragan looked around, seeing the Castle Fun Park in his rearview mirror. Taking the next highway exit, he looped around and got them back on track.
“You doing okay?” June asked as he pulled into a parking spot.
“Yep. You?” He unclipped his seatbelt and turned in his seat, facing her. The look she gave him was filled with understanding.
“Yep. Shall we?”
Dragan nodded and got out, trying to reach her door before she stepped out. The move was awkward, her door hitting him as he reached for it followed by nervous laughter while they apologized at the same time for being in the other’s way.
He let June walk in front of him while he tried to calm his nerves and trying not to stare at her ass. They walked through the fake-castle arch, June occasionally glancing at him over her shoulder. As they got closer to the glass doors leading in, she stopped and turned to face him.
“I guess we probably should have gone over what this… relationship… looks like.”
“I guess so,” Dragan said. “I guess… for starters… I’m more traditional. I like to hold doors open and carry things. So that shouldn’t be any different from how things were before.”
June laughed, the melody carrying across the parking lot. “Well, shit. That’s going to take some getting used to, I’m not used to… boyfriends doing that stuff. What about PDA?”
Dragan smiled, his cheeks reddening. “Probably no kissing, my grandma is a bit old school and my family will be around.” He didn’t say the rest of what he was thinking, how after their botched almost-first-kiss in the bookstore he’d decided he wanted to redo it — the right way.
Even if it didn’t mean anything, given their fake relationship.
“Deal.” She nodded. “As you know, I’m touchy. So also no change there.”
“Great.”
“I think that covers it. You ready?” June looked up at him, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Yep.” Dragan took one last long look at her, giving her a reassuring smile. “Let’s do this.”
He held the door open for her. Once inside, he snaked his arm across her shoulders as they looked around the dimly lit lobby. It was fairly crowded, even for a Saturday, but Dragan spotted his tall brothers off in a corner. He gave Cas a nod and guided June to the huddle.
“Hey, guys. Sorry we’re late. This is June. My… my girlfriend.” Once the words slipped out, he could barely contain his excitement. June was his girlfriend. Even for a moment, his dream had come true.
He made the introductions, everyone smiling and giving June a hug. Tomasz winked at him and Alice nudged his arm, tilting her head to his pocket. His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to read what she’d sent him.
Did she finally give in?
Dragan pocketed the phone and eyed his sister, who was trying not to laugh. “That ass of a question doesn’t even warrant an answer.”
She laughed even harder, drawing glances from the rest of his family. June looked up at him with those big green eyes, and he pulled her against him. She fit, like she always had and always would. Her arm wrapped around his waist, fingers playing with his shirt. He bent his lips to the top of her head, taking a deep inhale. Her shampoo was sometimes green apple, sometimes lemon and chamomile. He caught the notes of lemon and something sweeter. June nuzzled her face into his chest, laughing at something Kasia said.
“Okay, are ve ready? Mini-golf,tak?” His mom blurted out, her arms waving wildly to get everyone to come closer. Alice and Leon looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
“Yes, Ma, let’s go,” Lucas said, exasperated. “It’s over here.” He broke off from the group, heading towards the line for the mini-golf. Everyone followed, laughing and chatting as they went except their mom, yelling “Vait!” as if they were abandoning her.
“I forgot how… intense your mom is,” June murmured from his side.
“That’s one word for it,” he muttered.
He looked down at her, not daring to break their hold. Even given the large height difference, they moved as one through the crowd to the line.
